How old are petroglyphs
Generally speaking, petroglyphs of the southwestern United States and more specifically
central New Mexico, range in age from 300 to 2,500 years old. Although some authors
list the latest Rio Grande style petroglyphs as "to present." Which would
possibly make some petroglyphs in this area as recent as 200 years ago or less. The
majority can be considered being made in the times of 5000 BC to 1700 AD.
Which covers the most significant styles and relative date zones.

Here
is a listing of the date ranges common in New Mexico and the southwest, and the analogous
styles:

Paleo-Indian - 12000 BC to 8000 BC(nomadic Native Americansare thought to have migrated to the
southwest during the Pleistocene Ice Age, generally accepted as a time
span from 23000 BC to 8500 BC, and conventionally considered ended by most archaeologists
by the year 10,000 BC.)

In regards to the specific petroglyph site of which this article addresses, the date
range based on styles observed at the sites can only for now be estimated in the 5000 BC
to 1500 AD range. The majority of petroglyphs here though appear to be of the Rio
Grande Style. The site also includes certain Anasazi Style elements, and some
Archaic Style glyphs. Although there may be at least one exception which would suggest
that the petroglyph was created as far back as 10000 BC.

Anthropomorphic horned figure with tail appears to be dancing in ritualistic
manner. Perhaps a healer or shaman with other supernatural powers. The circular
(with rays) shape, emminating from where arms should be on the body, also connotates a sun
symbol. Hence the name we've given it as "the Sun God." Object at
left appears claw-like, or even animal shaped with head looking up and tail outstretched
then drooping. Although this petroglyph is very near "the spaceman" (less
than 100 ft. away), it appears to be much more recent in vintage.

The Mogollon culture's Jornada Style petroglyphs are also represented at this site in
central New Mexico. The Jornada Style is commonly dated from 1 AD to 1500 AD.
The Mogollon cultures have been divided by researchers into two distinct groups.
The Mogollon associated to the southern New Mexico region and, the Anasazi in northern New
Mexico.

Here is an example of a Jornada Style petroglyph found about midway along the 7
mile long portion of the "north site."

Overall, our new found site in central New Mexico seems to have had its rock art
started at the north end of the escarpment. With the more recent styles of
petroglyphs towards the southern end of the mesa. But this is not a hard and fast
rule. The various styles of petroglyphs seem diversely scattered along the landmark.
With some more recent styles alongside older ones. Suggesting perhaps that
later tribesmen found their own special meanings to certain areas already marked by
previous, and culturally different ancestors.

This boulder is marked on two sides with Archaic Style petroglyphs. Almost
out-of-place with nearby petroglyphs of more recent cultural styles and artistic detail.

Speaking of time...Every time I go back to this sacred site of petroglyphs near the Rio San Jose, I
discover examples of rock art that I've overlooked before.

On one recent trip to re-photograph some of the petroglyphs in better lighting
conditions, my neice who was along to assist in note-taking spotted a new 'glyph atop a
large boulder. Climbing to a better vantage point confirmed what she had verbalized
when she first pointed it out. It appeared to be the face of a clock (see below).
With the hands of the clock indicating 4:35.

Ancient timepiece? 14 dots around the face instead of 12. Petroglyph resides
atop a large boulder at the North site.

Over a mile away from the location of this particular symbol, we found two more nearly
identical. And in close proximity to each other. The differences being in size
and that one clockface had 20 dots, the other 21. But the "hands" were all
in the same position. When the above example was first found, we guessed that
perhaps the ancient natives to this region may have had a better timekeeping method than
we do today. With a cumulative 28 hours in a day, maybe they did not have to account
for leap years. That theory died as soon as we found the other two similar
petroglyphs. Thankfully for my neice, who was going to get to prove or disprove the
idea with a calculator once we arrived back home.

But perhaps the most bewildering petroglyph I have found at the far north end of this
site leads me to believe that this particular location near my home has been a
predominant, extra special place over a very long period of time to many of our Native
American peoples. It took on a more special meaning for me when I found a
particular specimen of ancient rock art. Emphasized even more-so when I read another
passage from Dennis Slifer's very in-depth book on rock art in the Upper Rio Grande region
of the Southwest. He states in his book that no rock art is known to exist in the
Southwest that is associated with the Paleo-Indians (approximate date range of 23000 BC to
8500 BC). However, unless we open the proverbial can-of-worms regarding the
possibilities of space aliens, time travel, or other mystical phenomena. How else
could a prehistoric traveler make a very detailed petroglyph of a creature that has now
been extinct for roughly 12,000 years? Unless they witnessed it for themselves?

Could this possibly be the first known petroglyph in the Southwest from the
Pleistocene Ice Age (Paleo-Indian Style)?

I don't believe that anyone can deny what these two beasts represent. Obviously
some ancient wanderer saw first hand one or more Pleistocene mammoths (or mastadons).
There is plenty of modern day proof that these beasts were indiginous to the early
New Mexico landscape. A lifelong friend of mine who now resides along the lower
Mimbres area near Cookes Peak even found a petrified mammoth jaw bone and teeth.
While he was on a geological expedition near the town of Mimbres, during his early
college days at Western New Mexico University.

So perhaps, like a diamond in the rough, what I believe to be my new found petroglyph
site. Bearing a great diversity of petroglyphic styles and examples of ancient
Native American rock art. May indeed prove to be of profound interest to others.
Who like me, find rock art to be mystical and chock-full of many hours of exciting
discovery, observation and wonderment.